Disclaimer: I do not own any of the talent from the WWE. Duh!
The Road to Wrestle Mania: One Man's Journey to the Top
Chapter VI
Triple Play
Drake Williams had forty-eight hours to fully recover before the Pay per View. Two days later, it was the great day of Armageddon, so to speak. Drake was told that he had a mild concussion from the belt shot from Booker T. Regardless of the injury, Drake was still well enough to compete tonight for the U.S. Title. Some would probably say he was really stubborn. In the hours before the show, Drake sat alone in the nineteenth row listening to some music and watching the stagehands go to work. They had already set up the ring and Drake thought going inside to "test" it, just to see if it would hold up. In the end, Drake decided to take a walk around the arena to clear his mind of any negative thoughts heading into the show. When asked to, Drake would sometimes help set up the stage but for the most part, he opted to keep to himself.
Four hours later, the fireworks and pyrotechnics exploded on the stage as WWE Armageddon got under way. Drake watched from backstage as MNM went out ready to defend their Tag Team Titles. Drake checked out the order of match on the card that night trying to find his match. He found it and it going to be the third match of the evening following Rey Mysterio verses Randy Orton. Drake returned to the locker room where several other wrestlers were setting up or just lounging out if they did not have a match. At last after the first half-hour went by, it was time Drake's match.
Chris Benoit came out first as Tony Chimel announced the Triple Threat match for the United States Championship. Drake Williams came out next with new music and Michael Cole acknowledged the fact that Williams had thirteen stitches in his head thanks to Booker T. Speak of the devil; Booker T came out as the United States Champion. As soon as the champion got on the apron, Drake went the attack, sending Booker to the floor. Drake went out after Booker T and proceeded to beat the living hell out of him until Benoit stepped in to try and stop him. Drake would have none of it and shoved Benoit away before the Champion surprised Williams and tossed him back into the ring and the bell officially sounded to start the title match.
Williams quickly got his bearings before tackling Booker T to the mat and they started trading blows. Chris Benoit went back into the ring but chose to stand by for the moment and let Booker and Drake beat each other's teeth out. Eventually, Williams had Booker T down and invited Benoit to come get some. Seeing as it is every man for himself in a Triple Threat match, the Rabid Wolverine went after Williams with some hard knife-edge chops and Williams traded them back. Drake deviated from the chops and started throwing hard rights to Benoit's head until he missed one and Benoit scored with a back suplex that took Drake over the ropes. Even though Drake was able to hang on, Benoit clocked him with a forearm shot and Drake fell off the edge.
Booker T came back and attacked Chris Benoit from behind before hitting his own back suplex and getting a two count. The Champion stayed on Benoit with right hands before throwing him into the corner. Benoit reversed the pressure and chopped the daylights out off Booker T before Drake Williams came back and beat down Benoit; it was every man for himself after all and the United States Championship was on the line. With Chris Benoit down, Booker and Drake went at it again. Booker got the advantage with a sharp thrust kick to Drake's chin before covering Drake for another two count.
Booker T started arguing with the referee not knowing that Williams nipped-up, showing off some good athletic prowess and getting a pop from the crowd. Booker T turned around and walked right into a stiff clothesline from Williams followed by another before hitting a spine buster for a count of two. Booker T jabbed his thumb into Drake's but was caught in a german suplex followed by another. Williams was about to hit one more before Chris Benoit came out of nowhere with his own german suplex and all three wrestlers were down.
Chris Benoit draped an arm over Williams but he shot his right shoulder up. Benoit tried to cover Booker T but he kicked out as well. Benoit picked up Booker T as Drake Williams rolled out of the ring nearly wiped out. Booker T and Chris Benoit traded shots until Benoit locked in the Sharpshooter. The Champion screamed in pain while crawling to the ropes. Booker T was so close to the ropes but Benoit dragged him to the center of the ring. The Champion was close to tapping when Drake came back in and nailed Benoit in the back of his head. Drake picked up Benoit and hit the Widowmaker but only got a two count after Booker T broke up the fall.
Booker T and Drake Williams got into a slugfest before Booker hit a Scissors kick. Booker went for the pin fall but Benoit broke it up. Chris Benoit dragged Booker T onto his feet and took him down with another suplex for a two count. Benoit broke off the attack and went after Drake, who was almost out on his feet. Drake still had some fight left by heaving Benoit over the ropes and went after him. They traded blows on the outside until Chris Benoit rammed Drake's head into the ringpost.
Booker T caught up with Benoit and attacked him, throwing him into the steep steps. The Champion rolled Chris Benoit back into the ring and hit the Book End and covered Benoit, but somehow Benoit kicked out. Booker T could not believe it and went to the top turnbuckle only to be stopped by Benoit. Chris Benoit was going to try a superplex when Drake Williams came back in and hit a power bomb on Benoit, who at the same time suplexed Booker T off the top rope.
Drake was bleeding from the head again but he still draped a hand over Benoit. Drake earned a two count before Benoit somehow locked in the Crossface. Chris Benoit had the hold locked in tight and Drake looked to be just about out of it but he refused to quit. With his last ounce of strength, Williams hoisted Benoit on his shoulders and chucked him over the ropes. But Drake was too drained to continue and Booker T took advantage with a another Scissors Kick and pinned Drake for the three count to retain the title.
"Here is your winner and still United States Champion, Booker T." Tony Chimel announced.
The audience let it be known that they were displeased with the result as Booker T hightailed it out of the ring. Meanwhile, Chris Benoit watched in disgust before going into to check on Drake Williams. He was a bloody mess just like two days ago. Benoit helped Williams to his feet and the fans gave him a standing ovation for his tremendous effort. Chris Benoit offered to help Drake back to the locker room but Drake wanted to be a man about it and walk out on his own.
Later in the night, Drake Williams sat in the trainer's room getting patched up. His young facial features were still covered with dried up blood and even his long hair was a mess. The doctor told Drake to clean up and get some rest after he finished. When the doctor was finished, Drake returned to the locker room, plopped onto a couch and watched the rest of the show. There was a light knock on the door and Christy Hemme came, taking a seat next to Drake.
"How're you feeling?" she asked. "Like hell, crap and shit all rolled into one. But I'll live." Drake answered. "That was incredible out there. I'm surprised you lasted that long against Booker and Chris." Christy said.
"Too bad I couldn't become win the belt, but I got one Helluva consolation prize." Drake said. "And what would that be?" Christy asked. Drake took a semi-deep breath and said, "Respect from the fans."
Christy placed her hand on Drake's shoulder as if say "good job" before leaving the room. Even though Armageddon was not his night, Drake knew there would be other opportunities to get some gold around his waist. He just has to keep fighting for those chances. No one was going to stop him, and nothing will stand in his way.
Author's note: I can't come up with any clever one-liners, so just review. I'll keep going as long as I can. Just for the record, Drake's new entrance theme music is called "Move" by the band, Thousand Foot Krutch and I don't own that either.